AQW 4485/17-22

Mr John Blair
Alliance Party
South Antrim

Tabled Date: 03/06/2020
Answered On Date: 20/07/2020
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (i) what role his Department has in ensuring the meat processing industry has sufficient Personal Protective Equipment to prevent the spread of Coronavirus; (ii) what co-ordination has taken place with (a) the Health and Safety Executive; and (b) the Department of Health regarding this matter.

Answer:

Thank you for your question in relation to the role of my Department in ensuring the meat processing industry has sufficient Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to prevent the spread of Coronavirus.

Firstly I would like to assure you that I share and appreciate your concerns at this difficult time.

The provision of PPE for meat processing workers is primarily the responsibility of individual Food Business Operators (FBOs). However, in response to, and from the outset of this crisis my officials have facilitated regular (often daily) meetings between the relevant representative industry bodies, individual FBOs, Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland (HSENI) and the Public Health Agency (PHA). The principal objective of these meetings and associated communications is to ensure that the industry as a whole and individual FBO’s in particular are familiar with and implementing the latest PHA guidance which is primarily aimed at ensuring a safe working environment for all personnel and minimising the risk of COVID transmission in the workplace.

These fora provide attendees with the opportunity to engage with officials with regard to the use of suitable PPE, according to PHA and HSENI advice. Industry, and my officials, have worked co-operatively throughout this crisis to share information on identification and procurement of suitable PPE and they report that there are currently no serious issues with PPE supply.